Chapter Text
It’s Sunday and Will doesn’t know what to do. He’s busy lying—staring at the ceiling as the thoughts consumed him. The clock ticked quietly beside his bed, hands nearing midnight, He didn’t even realize how close his birthday already was. Lost in thoughts, he barely noticed time passing. What could be the great o’ wizard, will be doing nothing, lying—staring at the ceiling?
His best friend.
He’d been thinking about what he should give Mike. He’d been searching for ideas for so long he couldn’t even remember when it started. It was near his birthday, yet instead of thinking about himself, here he was, lost in thoughts and worrying about what to give his best friend on his own birthday.
After a bunch of brainstorming, Will still couldn’t decide. He did have ideas, but none of them felt right. Everything had a downside. For example, a necklace would suit Mike, but it felt too much for a birthday gift—his birthday, not Mike’s.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a loud bang outside. He immediately got up and, without a second thought, opened the door.
“Mom?” he called when the lights suddenly went out and no one answered him. Power outage? he thought as he slowly walked through the living room.
He called their names again, but no one answered—not even El or Jonathan.
“Hey, guys, this is not funny,” he tried to joke, but his voice betrayed him.
His nerves crawled under his skin as his body started to shiver—out of fear, out of panic. His heart pounded so loudly it felt like a drum in his chest. He didn’t even realize he’d already reached the living room.
“Mom? El? Jonathan?” he called again.
Just as he was about to turn back, a light appeared in front of him.
And there they were.
Joyce stood smiling, holding a cake. El beamed as she started singing Happy Birthday, while the others grinned and clapped along.All the fear drained from Will’s body as his family walked toward him, singing.
Right, Midnight. It’s his birthday—and still, he’s thinking of something else—someone else.
It had been dark and he couldn’t see anything except the lamppost outside guiding him to the living room.
“I thought you were all gone” he said, his voice already on the verge of tears.
Joyce immediately handed the cake to Jonathan and pulled Will into a hug. “Oh, no, baby,” she murmured, cooing as she kissed the top of his head.
“Make a wish, Will,” Mike said.
Mike?!
Will quickly pulled away from his mother as his eyes landed on Mike—standing there with them. He hoped they hadn’t noticed the panic in his eyes when he saw his best friend beside Jonathan, smiling at him, clapping, and softly singing Happy Birthday.
Will was so focused on his best friend that the rest of the party faded into the background. Everyone was there, complete—yet his gaze never left one person.
But why would he be nervous, right? It’s just his best friend (who he is in love with)! Of course, he’d be here.
Everyone gathered after Will finished making a wish. The lights came back on as Hopper pulled the switch open, and they all sat around the Byers’ table. The celebration slowly turned into laughter as Joyce and Hopper started to bring the food to the table.
Dustin started to recall a memory, that had everyone laughing as they started teasing Will about it.
“You remembered how you used to have a bowl cut?” He asked.
He laughed along side with the others. “Yeah, that bowl cut’s wild, Will” Robin said, laughing the loudest at the table. “I remember when he caught me and Vickie kissing in one of the hospital room. Man, I knew it was you right away” She added.
Will laughed while defending himself. “I was trying to find you! I didn’t know you were off smooching Vickie’s face.”
“I thought you went to look for Mike, since you said you’d find him!” Robin exclaimed. Will immediately looked at Mike when robin mentioned him. He saw him busy laughing and giggling trying to understand the conversation. Mike probably felt the stare as he glanced at Will who quickly look away.
“Really? At the hospital?” Steve grossed out—earning a middle finger from Robin.
As the party went on, filled with laughter, joy, and food. Will tried to blend in—but he couldn’t. While everyone is absorbed by food, Will was consumed by Mike: His laugh, his little quirks, his small play with his food before taking a bite. Will noticed everything—even the smallest details.
Every now and then, Mike might just caught or maybe not that Will was trying to avoid his gaze. He tried to be subtle but his actions and body said otherwise. To point it out, when Will tried reaching for a piece of cordon bleu (take note: craving for it)—it was a little bit out of his reach, but it was near Mike. So, without hesitation, Mike tried to help him by extending the plate toward him, smiling. But this birthday boy’s heart started to skip a beat and panic set in by the gestures of his best friend, he quickly grab another dish from the table out of panic—a spaghetti he didn’t even want.
Mike wasn’t dumb. He could be oblivious to a lot of things and often asked what was happening, but he was never oblivious when it came to Will. He always noticed when something was off with his best friend, whether it was big or small.
And now, he noticed it—Will was avoiding him.
Mike caught every little detail: the way Will subtly looked away, the way his shoulders tensed whenever Mike leaned closer. When Mike tried to pass him the food he’d been eyeing for a while now. When Mike tried to start a conversation at the table, only for Robin to answer instead—something that annoyed him more than he cared to admit. When Mike kept glancing at Will, hoping to catch his attention, because he wanted to ask what his birthday wish was—but Will kept dodging him.
Mike wasn’t oblivious. Not really.
It was almost three in the morning when the celebration finally died down. Some of them headed home, classes and work waiting for them the next day—Max, Lucas, Dustin, Robin, Steve, and Nancy.
Jonathan walked them out, leaving El, Will, and Mike behind.
“You’re not going with them, Mike?” El asked as she stacked the plates together.
Mike shook his head, glancing at Will, who was sweeping the floor before answering. “I’m gonna help first” he said, earning a nod from El.
Will looked up at Mike at the same time El glanced between the two of them—suspiciously.
“Will, can you help Mike throw the trash outside?” El said.
Before Will could even react, El shoved a trash bag into his hands and grabbed Mike by the arm, dragging them both toward the door.
“You need to talk,” she whispered before pushing them outside, leaving the two of them standing there, completely dumbfounded.
Silence swallowed them whole.
Will tried to rationalize it. Why was he avoiding Mike? Was it because Mike made his stomach twist in ways it shouldn’t? Or because every accidental brush of their hands felt like it meant too much?
“Will, why are you avoiding me?” Mike tried to make his voice sound casual, but it came out wrong. Confused. Hurt. Almost betrayed.
Will didn’t know what to say. Instead, he walked toward the trash bin and threw the bag away, hoping—stupidly—that he could just walk off.
“Will.”
He stopped.
“I don’t know what happened,” Mike said, stepping closer.
“We were fine yesterday. We were laughing at school—we were okay. So… why?”
Will sucked in a breath and turned around.
Mike’s brows were furrowed, his face creased with confusion as he waited—really waited—for an answer.
Will opened his mouth, then closed it again.
How was he supposed to admit that, on his own birthday, all he could think about was what to give Mike? That his thoughts kept circling back to him, again and again?
He worried Mike might judge him. Even knowing he wouldn’t, the fear still settled heavy in his chest. He knew—deep down—that it wasn’t only about the gift. There was something more, something heavier, sitting quietly in his chest.
How there were a thousand things he wanted to say. A thousand reasons he could give. The truth sat heavy on his tongue, burning, begging to be let out.
Because you make my heart feel something that I shouldn’t feel with you.
Words wanted to spill from his mouth. Wanted to say things that could either ends—or begin something entirely new. But he knew, he knew that the latter would never happen.
He clenched his hands into fists, nails digging into his palms as if that alone could ground him. He swallowed hard before answering.
“I just—“ Will started, then stopped. He shook his head with the thought that maybe, this wasn’t the right time. Maybe someday there would be time to say what he was feeling. Maybe someday, he’d have the courage to say the things he’d been wanting to say without being afraid of the outcome. Maybe someday.
“I’m just tired” he finally said, staring at his feet, trying not to meet the other’s eyes.
“Just... a lot on my mind. I’m sorry.” he added. Mike looked at his face but failed to catch his eyes. His expression softened, as if he was trying to read the unspoken words hidden somewhere in Will’s face—something Will wasn’t saying.
“Are you sure there’s nothing wrong?” he asked quietly. “Did I do something to upset you?” he added.
Will’s heart cracked.
“No,” he said immediately, locking eyes with Mike, desperate to reassure him. “You didn’t—you didn’t do anything”
Mike hesitated, then nodded slowly, but the concern didn’t leave his face. He didn’t look satisfied, but he didn’t push it either.
“Okay,” Mike said, thought it didn’t sound like he believed it.
Both of them stayed in silence. The cold air drifted around them, making every gust of wind brush against their skin. No one tried to utter another word, yet you could feel the missing words trying to convey each thought—desperate to be shared.
“It’s getting cold. We should probably head back.” They both nodded and looked at each other as Mike said it.
They exchanged a small smile. Will tried to process his thoughts as they began walking back. He tried to reassure him again. “Just… don’t overthink it, Mike. I’m not mad or anything with you, and I’m sorry for ignoring you or avoiding you. That was never my intention.”
Mike exhaled.
“I know. It’s just that—I don’t like it when you ignore me or avoid me.”
Oh, Mike Wheeler… what are you doing to my heart?